CEDAR FALLS – UNI football has announced the signing of 21 student-athletes to the 2023 roster from early signing day on Wednesday.
“I’m excited about this year’s incoming recruiting class,” said head football coach Mark Farley. “We really wanted to hone in on the future of UNI football in taking as many freshmen as we did, building the program the way UNI football has been for years in taking players out of high school and developing them over the years and making them into five-star players.”
The 2023 early signing class includes 19 high school signees and 2 transfer students representing 9 different states, with 8 players hailing from Iowa. UNI picked up 5 linebackers, 4 offense and defensive linemen, 3 defensive backs, 2 wide receivers, one quarterback, one defensive end and one tight end.
2023 UNI Signees
Braylon Kammrad, QB, 6-1, 189, Council Bluffs, Iowa | Lewis Central HS
One of Iowa’s most prolific high school passers, Braylon Kammrad threw for over 6,400 passing yards, including a school record 3,069 yards as a senior at Lewis Central High School. Kammrad led Lewis Central to a Class 4A state championship in 2021 and a runner-up finish in 2022 playing for his father Justin Kammrad.
Lance Berends, DL, 6-3, 244, Hartley, Iowa | Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn HS
A physical pass rusher from Hartley, Iowa, Berends helped lead his team into the first round of the high school playoffs during the 2022 season with 41 total tackles, including 32 solo stops. He also notched 10 tackles for loss and 5 sacks his senior season. During his high school career, Berends had a total of 98.5 tackles, 84 solo tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks.
Kaleb Cline, OL, 6-3, 240, Spencer, Iowa | Spencer HS
A physical offensive lineman from northwest Iowa, Cline helped lead the charge in Spencer winning a Class 4A district championship. With Cline on the line, the Tigers ran for 2,714 yards and 36 touchdowns his senior year. A solid addition to the Panther line up front, Cline was selected to participate in the River Battle Bowl, a game featuring high school prospects from Iowa and Nebraska.
Luke Reth, OL, 6-3, 245, Manchester, Iowa | West Delaware HS
A tough, physical blocker up front, Reth helped lead West Delaware to three state playoff appearances, including a run to the quarterfinal round in 2020. Reth was named a First Team All-State lineman, and has experience playing on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Anthony Isley, DB, 6-0, 187, Mediapolis, Iowa | Mediapolis HS
A versatile athlete on both sides of the ball, Isley helped lead Mediapolis to a Class 1A state playoff berth in 2022 as both a defensive back and running back. Named the All-District Most Valuable Player his senior season, Isley helped the Bulldogs to an 8-2 record and a first round postseason win over Central Decatur.
Zach Mehmert, DL, 6-5, 240, Cresco, Iowa | Crestwood HS
A multi-sport athlete at Crestwood High School, Mehmert was a 2022 team captain for the Cadets earning Academic All-State recognition. He also was the recipient of both the blue collar and sportsmanship awards for the 2022 season. Mehmert took sixth place in the shot put at last spring’s state track and field championships, and is a leader with FCA, and a silver cord volunteer.
Bradley Vislisel, DL, 6-3, 230, Mount Vernon, Iowa | Mount Vernon HS
The Mount Vernon native earned First Team All-State IPSWA/IFCA, Des Moines Register All-District, First Team All-District, Cedar Rapids Gazette All-Area and team defensive MVP honors along with Academic All-District honors. During his senior season, Vislisel set school records in sacks and tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He also tallied 15 solo tackles with 3 passes deflections and a forced fumble in his senior campaign.
Tyson Cooreman, LB, 6-3, 205, Randolph, Minn. | Randolph HS
Cooreman racked up 50 tackles his senior season, including 30 solo stops and 26 assisted tackles in 10 games. The senior captain also picked up a pair of tackles for losses along with 3 sacks and a fumble recovery. On offense, Cooreman had 808 total yards on offense, rushing for 354 yards on 57 carries and had 454 yards while hauling in 37 receptions. On the special teams, Cooreman returned 14 kicks for a total of 182 total yards. Cooreman earned All-District and Academic All-District honors, and was selected to the Minnesota High School All-Star Team following his senior season.
Magnus Wright, DL, 6-3, 290, Champlin, Minn. | Champlin Park HS
A multi-award winning lineman on both offense and defense, Wright received All-District, All-Conference, Star Tribune All-Metro Second Team honors as a senior, and was also named offensive and defensive lineman of the year at Champlin Park High School in the Twin Cities area. Wright was also voted team MVP by his peers.
Jackson Stortz, OL, 6-4, 245, Hartford, Wisc. | Hartford Union HS
One of the top offensive lineman in the region, Stortz was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year in the state of Wisconsin at Hartford Union High School. Stortz was also a First Team All-State Offensive Lineman, was named First Team All-Region and a finalist for the Joe Thomas Award, given to the state’s top high school offensive lineman.
Carsten Bluhm, TE, 6-5, 220, Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southeast HS
An All-State pass catcher and blocker, Bluhm recorded 181 receiving yards with one touchdown and a fumble recovery as a senior at Lincoln Southeast High School. A National Honor Society and honor roll student, Bluhm helped lead Lincoln Southwest to the state playoffs three times, including one conference and city championship.
Brogan Ling, LB, 6-2, 198, Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest HS
Brogan Ling recorded 88 total tackles during his senior season at Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska with 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. An All-City and All-State linebacker, Ling also is a three-time honor roll student.
Sam Reddinger, LB, 6-1, 200, Morris, Ill. | Morris HS
A linebacker from central Illinois, Reddinger was an All-State selection in Class 5A his senior season at Morris High School, where he recorded 115 total tackles and 6 sacks. He also forced three fumbles and contributed to special teams with a pair of blocked punts in 2022.
Grant Larkin, WR, 6-0, 180, Naperville, Ill. | Nequa Valley HS
A wide receiver from the Chicagoland area, Larkin was a team captain, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Area pass catcher as a three-year starter at Nequa Valley High School in Illinois. Larkin recorded 53 catches for 896 yards and 8 touchdowns as a senior, and joins teammate Cole Dutkovich in this year’s signing class.
Cole Dutkovich, LB, 6-2, 210, Naperville, Ill. | Nequa Valley HS
An inside linebacker from the Chicagoland area, Dutkovich was a First Team Class 8A defender his senior year at Nequa Valley High School. A District Defensive Player of the Year, Naperville Sun Player of the Year and two-time captain, Dutkovich notched 127 total tackles in 2022 with 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
Alonzo Morgan III, DB, 6-3, 205, Leawood, Kan. | Blue Valley North HS
A multi-position defender from Kansas, Morgan registered 75 total tackles during his senior season at Blue Valley North High School in Leawood, Kan., along with 2 forced fumbles and an interception. Morgan also earned All-State recognition in Class 6A as a junior.
Jaiden Ellis-Lahey, WR, 6-3, 205, Bethlehem, Penn. | Bethlehem Catholic HS
Ellis-Lahey caught 39 passes for 520 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior at Bethlehem Catholic High School in eastern Pennsylvania. Under head coach Kyle Haas, Ellis-Lahey’s offensive skills helped Bethlehem Catholic reach the Class 4A state playoffs in 2022.
Jonathan Cabral-Martin, DB, 5-10, 190, Lynbrook, N.Y. | Central Connecticut State
Cabral-Martin saw action in 22 games at Central Connecticut State during his two years in the northeast, earning All-NEC Second Team honors this past season. He registered 114 total tackles, including 67 in 2022 for the Blue Devils, while also breaking up 6 passes and forcing 2 fumbles. Cabral-Martin served as a defensive captain in high school at East Coast Prep, and was an All-County defender at Lynbrook High School in New York.
Josh Volk, OL, 6-4, 308, Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa
University of Iowa transfer Josh Volk joins the UNI offensive line crew after two seasons on the Hawkeyes’ roster. Volk played in two games in 2021 against Kent State and Purdue, and was named to the Dean’s List in the spring of 2021. He was also named as a 2021 member of the Academic All-Big Ten Team. Volk was a three-year letterman and two-time all-state lineman at Cedar Rapids Xavier, helping the Saints compile a 43-2 record with two state championships during his four seasons in high school.
Malik Stewart, LB, 6-5, 240, El Dorado, Kan. | Butler Community College
Stewart recorded 12 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his lone season at Butler Community College in Kansas, as well as one tipped pass leading to an interception. The 6-5, 240 pound linebacker has been noted for his quickness and physical presence on the edge.
Andre Morris Jr., DE, 6-4, 285, Tampa, Fla. | Jesuit HS
Morris lettered in football for three seasons at Jesuit High School in Florida, helping lead his team to a state championship in 2021 as a team captain. He recorded 29 tackles for loss with 3 sacks during his senior season in 2022. Known for his strength and physical abilities, Morris caught recruiters eyes with a squat of 425 pounds in the weight room.
